A high-level delegation from Pakistan led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif arrived in Kabul on Wednesday. Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (DG ISI) Lt General Nadeem Anjum also accompanied the delegation.
Acting deputy prime minister for economic affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar met with the delegation. Afghan Minister’s Office of Economic Affairs, in its press release, revealed that both sides discussed the development of comprehensive relations, trade, regional connectivity, and economic cooperation.
On the occasion, Baradar said that Afghanistan and Pakistan should have good relations as neighboring countries and urged enhanced trade and economic relations between the two countries. He also called to separate trade and economic issues from politics.
Read more: Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum: ISI’s unorthodox military general
Baradar also called for the release of Afghan refugees who are currently in Pakistan prisons, and to facilitate the passage through Torkham and Spin Boldak gates of travelers, especially those seeking emergency medical care.
Meanwhile, as per Afghan media reports, the Pakistani delegation has promised to solve all kinds of problems and added that the relevant ministries and committees will work on this as soon as possible.
1/5: د افغانستان اسلامي امارت د ریاستالوزراء اقتصادي مرستیال محترم ملا عبدالغني برادر اخوند د پاکستان له دفاع وزیر سره چې د یوه جګپوړي پلاوي په مشرۍ نن کابل ته راغلی دی، وکتل. په دې کتنه کې دواړو لوریو د دوه اړخیزو مناسباتو، سوداګرۍ، سیمهییز اتصال او دواړو هېوادونو ترمنځ pic.twitter.com/eb205tCLyS
— د ریاست الوزراء اقتصادي معاونیت (@FDPM_AFG) February 22, 2023
The high-level meeting between Pakistan and Afghanistan comes as Pakistan faces an uptick in terror activities after the TTP ended a ceasefire. Border skirmishes between the two countries have also increased in recent days.
On Monday, Afghan border security forces opened fire on Monday which caused injury to a Pakistani soldier at Ayub checkpoint, located at the hilltop near the Torkham border. Pakistani side responded with heavy gunfire on suspected places from where the attack was initiated.
Interestingly, the high-level delegation in Afghanistan from Pakistan led by Defense Minister Khawaja Asif included DG ISI Lt General Nadeem Anjum and Pakistani Chargé d’affaires Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani who faced an assassination attempt last year when Pakistan’s embassy in Kabul came under attack.
DG ISI Nadeem Anjum usually keeps a low profile and is rarely seen in public. As a result, the pictures of DG ISI in Afghanistan are going viral on social media.
Read more: Pictures of ISI Chief’s rare appearance at funeral of martyred CTD officers go viral